(FREDONIA, NEW YORK) - Members of United University Professions (UUP) - America’s largest Higher Education Union, gathered with students and allies for a silent march at State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia today (Tuesday, December 5th) to oppose anticipated program cuts at the campus.

UUP Members also urged SUNY to fund the campus fairly using $163 million in new direct State funding for SUNY.

The lunchtime event coincided with rising concerns about a potential announcement from SUNY that programs will be cut at SUNY Fredonia.

At 12 noon, UUP Members and marchers gathered on campus in front of Fenton Hall, which houses the campus President’s office.  They then marched silently across campus to send the message that cuts are not necessary and that significant reductions in programming amount to an assault on the Union labor that runs the SUNY System.

SUNY Fredonia, which has reported a $17 million deficit, is one of 18 campuses facing projected multi-million-dollar deficits heading into 2024.

“It’s imperative that campuses like SUNY Fredonia receive equitable funding, so they are able to serve the diverse educational needs of students across the state,” UUP President Fred Kowal said. 

UUP, through its strong advocacy, was instrumental in securing the $163 million - a record investment in SUNY by Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature in the 2023-2024 State Budget.

SUNY could have erased deficits at Fredonia the other SUNY Campuses had it distributed that State aid to campuses based on need, UUP said.

Instead, SUNY’s four University Centers received the lion’s share of those funds.

SUNY’s remaining campuses, many of them smaller comprehensive and technical colleges - located in economically-depressed, rural, Upstate communities - split the rest, according to data in the enacted 2023-2024 State Budget.

SUNY Fredonia received $2.8 million.

SUNY Potsdam, which is cutting 10 degree programs to reduce a $9 million deficit, got $2.5 million.

Kowal also noted UUP’s Members see the cuts at SUNY Potsdam - and potentially at other SUNY Campuses - as an attack on the Union-represented Workers who do the work of educating students at the campuses.

“Making matters worse is that there is a limited and contradictory pattern of communication from SUNY to our Union’s Members,” Kowal reports. “And to be blunt, they see these steps as continuing the destructive work started under former Governor (Andrew) Cuomo to defund SUNY.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Press Release | UUP Fredonia members to march to oppose anticipated program cuts (uupinfo.org)

 UUP Graphic.